Despite having its own Government at the Centre, the State unit of the BJP is not happy with the recent fare hike announced by the Railway Ministry. It has demanded a rollback of the fares, especially for suburban Mumbai travel.
On Monday, BJP State President Devendra Fadnavis told media persons that a protest has been lodged with party President Rajnath Singh, which will be conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The hike in some of the fares will be rolled back soon, he said.
He pointed out that the new government has merely implemented the decisions of the earlier UPA government. The Congress, which is now trying to make political capital out of it, had originally suggested the hike, Fadnavis said. “First they proposed the hike, and now they are opposing it.
“This is incongruous and downright insensitive,’’ he added. He, however, also pointed out that a fare hike was inevitable, with the Indian Railways suffering a daily loss of about ₹30 crore.
Fadnavis added that if hikes are not allowed, it may become impossible for the transport body to pay salaries and pensions.
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Vinod Tawde said a hike in fares can only be justified if people get better amenities at railway stations.
Shockingly high
On Saturday, Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray had said the fare hike is shockingly high, and added that he would be requesting Modi for a rollback.
On Monday, in a fiery editorial carried in newspaper Samna , which serves as the mouthpiece of the party, the Sena pointed out that if the Congress had carried out this fare hike, the BJP would have fed ‘Congressmen to the canons’, and that it is ironic that the same BJP is in power now with a solid majority.
The editorial noted that keeping in mind the fare hike, the BJP should now deliver 100 per cent on the development work front and provide for better amenities for railway passengers.
The editorial pointed that Modi had promised acche din and reduction in inflation but today the common man is burdened with a fare hike.
Protests across Mumbai Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that on Monday morning State President of the party Manikrao Thakre, along with about 1,000 supporters, broke the law by travelling ticketless from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Thane station.
The NCP also held a large agitation at Dadar station.
Meanwhile, MP and President of the Republican Party of India (Athavale group) Ramdas Athavale has suggested that rental fees be hiked for stalls and billboards dotting railway lines, and passenger fares be spared.
Athavale is a key ally of the BJP in Maharashtra. It is believed that his support had helped the BJP-led alliance garner a large percentage of Dalit votes in the Lok Sabha elections.